Cigar container



Oct. 29, 1935. J. D. CONT] CIGAR CONTAINER Filed May 14, 19:54

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20 uvzu' n BY o 0d. 29, 1935. J CONT] 2,018,705

CIGAR CONTAINER Filed May 14, 1 954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED} STATES CIGAR CONTAINER John D. Contl, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Sylvania Industrial Corporation, Va., a corporation of Virginia Fredericksburg,

- Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,440

18 Claims.

This invention relates in general to containers and, in particular, to a tubular cigar container formed of a flexible, heat-fusible material and to correlated improvements in the process for forming an end closure for such container.

It has long been desired to provide cigar wrappers or containers formed of a non-fibrous material such, for example, as regenerated cellulose, with an end closure providing, on the one hand, protection from changing atmospheric conditions whereby the cigar is protected from excessive drying and, on the other hand, means for easily and safely removing the cigar without damage thereto.

When cigars are enclosed in pre-formed tubular containers such as the well known transparent, moistureproof tubes, the danger of damaging the cigar in removing it from the tube is not so acute on account of the fact that only one end of the cigar tube is sealed tightly, the other end usually being twisted or folded, thereby forming a closure which may be comparatively easily opened. On the other hand, when cigars are wrapped individually in a flexible, heat-fusible material, it is customary to seal the longitudinal seams by heat or a suitable adhesive and then provide each end of the wrapper with an end closure comprising inwardly tucked plicated sides forming with the upper and lower surfaces a multiply closure, the plies heretofore usually being held together by the fused coating located on the continuous surfaces. In addition, frequently,

the flattened end is folded back and heat-sealed against the body of the container.

Smokers of cigars have adopted almost uniformly the practice of removing a cigar from its tubular container, either when pre-formed or when formed on the cigar, by pinching or pressing against one end of the cigar and pushing the other end through the end closure of the container. If the end closure has a tenacious seal, as commonly provided heretofore on wrapped cigars, very frequently the leaf wrapper of the cigar will be mutilated when the end of the cigar is forced through the seal. Furthermore, the cigar may be damaged by the excess pressure which must be applied to force it through the closure. With certain kinds of cigars such, for example, as blunt corona or panetela types, as distinguished from tapered perfectos, it is frequently almost impossible to remove the cigar from its wrapper by this method, this occasioning considerable annoyance on the part of the smoker.

It is a general object of the invention to pro- 1 vide a method of forming a container for cigars and like cylindrical objects whereby thecigar may be easily and rapidly forced through the container end seal without damage to the cigar.

It is another object of the invention to provide 5 an improved process for wrapping cigars in flexible, heat-fusible materials and providing said wrapper with'an end closure which may be easily ruptured by forcing the end of the cigar through the seal. 1

It is a more specificobject of the invention to provide, as an article of manufacture, a container per se and also the combination of a tubular container formed of a moistureproof, flexible, heat-fusible material and a cigar contained therein, the container'being provided with an end closure characterized by affording effective protection against changing atmospheric conditions and which may be easily broken by forcing the end of the cigar through the closure.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and a process having the steps and the relation of steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of thenature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsin which:

, Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side ele a vation of certain elements of an apparatus for forming an end closure on a tubular container formed of a flexible, heat-fusible material;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the container of Fig. 1 illustrating the operation of the 40 means for inwardly tucking the side walls of the container;

Fig. 3 is another view of the elements of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 at a later time in the cycle of the sealing operation; 4

Fig. 4 is another view of the elements of the apparatus in Fig. 1 at a slightly later time than that'shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of the elements of the apparatus of Fig. l at a time slightly later than that 5 shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the flap folding and heat-sealing element shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclus v Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing one embodiment of a sealing element made to carry out the process in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top view of one embodiment of the container showing the areas of the end closure sealed by the sealing element of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the sealing element, showing it in sealing position on a wrapped cigar;

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary top views of further forms of containers sealed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 12 is an illustration of a method-of removing the cigar from the novel container of the present invention.

The present invention is especially useful in connection with cigars which are individually wrapped in flat sheet material, but it is contemplated that features thereof may also be used with pre-formed tubular containers.

In the preferred practice of the invention, a cigar or like cylindrical object I is wrapped in a suitable sheet 2 of a flexible, heat-fusible material. The expression heat-fusible materia is intended to include sheet material formed in whole or in part of, or combined with, a heatfusible composition. In the now preferred embodiment, the wrapper consists of glycerinated sheets of cellulose hydrate regenerated from viscose which is combined with a heat-fusible, moistureproof coating. The cigar is placed with its longest axis parallel to the longest dimension of the sheet which is folded about the same and overlapped to form a longitudinal seam 3 which may be sealed by heat-sealingor by the use of a suitable adhesive applied in a known manner. The wrapped cigar now is brought to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the overhanging portions at one or both ends are subjected to the following sequence of operations:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the opposing side walls of the overhanging portion at the end of the wrapper are inwardly tucked by a suitable element, after which the upper and lower surfaces are flattened upon the inwardly tucked sides to form a multi-ply closure as shown in Fig. 3. The element employed for pressing together the superposed plies is now removed and the flattened end is folded back on the body of the container by a suitable means as shown in Fig. 4. The folded, flattened end is then heatsealed against the body of the container, heat being applied in laterally spaced areas A and A adjacent the end, forming, in the illustrated instance, sealed and unsealed strips running lengthwise of the container, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

This sealing completes the essential wrapping operation although it is to be understood that the cigar or like cylindrical object may be subjected to other wrapping operations or enclosed in an additional container. The cigar or other object may be provided with a legend-bearing band either before or after the operation above described.

There are shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawing certain elements of one embodiment of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the several elements of the end closing mechanism of the apparatus comprise means for inwardly tucking opposing side walls of the portion of the wrapper projecting beyond the end of the cigar, such means taking the form, for example,

of a bifurcated Y-shaped tucker I of which the branches ll converge sharply to the shank l2 and which is reciprocated by suitable means (not shown) from the tucking position shown in Fig. 1 to the rest position shown in Fig. 3.

As the side tucker l0 withdraws from the position shown in Fig. 1, the upper and lower surfaces of the projecting wrapper are flattened onto the inwardly tucked portions by a suitable end presser and creaser comprising an upper male die or block l3 and a lower female die or block I4 which meet along the dotted line B-B and press the superposed plies between their opposing surfaces l5 and I6. The surfaces l5 and it are cut so as to crease the flattened end at a suitable point C adjacent the end of the 15 cigar as shown in Fig. 3.

As the presser blocks l3 and i4 separate an move away from the flattened end, a folding and sealing element I1 is advanced to fold the flattened end onto the body of\ the container, said element being actuated by a suitable mechanism (not shown) to reciprocate it from the rest position shown in Fig. 1 to the sealing position shown in Fig. 5. As illustrated in the several Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, one modiflcation of this folding and sealing element consists of a shank l8 pivotally mounted at one end on a shaft l9 and provided at its opposite end with a folding and sealing head 20 the folding and sealing head 20 will be caused to move through the several positions shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

The under side of the folding and sealing head 23 is provided with a groove 24, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or a. plurality of grooves I24 as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, when the head 20 contacts the flattened end of the wrapper as shown in Fig. 5, the flattened end is heat-sealed in laterally spaced areas A A, each separated by an unsealed gap, thus forming sealed and unsealed strips running lengthwise of the container. In the now preferred embodiment, the sealed areas lie adjacent the outermost longitudinal edge of the flattened end and a central area is unsealed.

After the several end closing elements reach the position shown in Fig. 5, the cycle is completed and all the elements then are withdrawn in order that a second wrapped cigar may be brought to the position shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that certain modifications in the several end closing elements used to carry out the process of the invention may be made without transcending the scope of the invention. For example, if the flattened end. is not to be folded back upon the body of the bag, the pressing element may perform the sealing operation, in which case the block I3 and/ or the block l4 may be provided with a heating element and one of the blocks grooved to seal the end in alternative areas forming sealed and unsealed strips 5 lengthwise of the container.

Further, separate elements may be provided for performing the operations of folding and of sealing. Moreover, the invention contemplates the use of adhesive and/or solvent and pressure instead of heat and pressure in sealing, in which case the adhesive and/or solvent and pressure is applied to laterally spaced areas of the flattened endv to form sealed and unsealed strips.

Thus, in Fig. 10 there is shown a container 2,

. 2,0I8,705 having a longitudinally sealed seam 3 and an by heat,-adhesive or other suitable means, in.

laterally spaced areas A A which are separated from each other and from the seam 3 by unsealed gaps. If desired, the sealing of seam 3 may stop short of line C, further to facilitate ready opening of the container.

In Fig. 11 there is shown a further form of container having a flattened end which is folded back on the container body as in Fig. 8, and which is sealed thereto in a series of laterally spaced areas A"A", which are separated by unsealed gaps. These sealed areas may be obtained by use of the device shown in Fig. 9, or through use of an adhesive and/or a solvent or the like. In any case in which the latter forms of seal are used, the container may or may not be of heat-fusible material.

In the now preferred embodiment of the novel container, the longitudinal seam is not sealed throughout the entire length of the container,

. the seal terminatingat a distance from the end I closure as shown by the shaded area D of Figs.

8 and 11;

In each instance it will be noted that the inventlon contemplates provision of a tubular wrapper having a flattened end which is not sealed entirely across from side to side. Instead, sealing is restricted to laterally spaced areas separated by an unsealed gap, so that alternate sealed and unsealed portions are provided across the flattened end of the container.

It will be observed that by the present invention there has been provided a novel container for cigars or like cylindrical objects. To remove the cigar or other object from the container, one end of the container may be grasped by the fingers as shown in Fig. 12 and pressure applied to the end of'the object inside of the wrapper so as to force the opposite end through the sealed end of the container. When the cigar or other object is forced through the end closure, the unsealed section of the longitudinal seam opens and permits the wrapper to expand freely as illustrated in Fig. 12. Thus the cigar may be removed from the flared wrapper without pinching the cigar out of shape or damaging its leaf wrapper.

I claim;

1. In a process of forming a container for cigars and like cylindrical objects, the steps comprising forming a tube of flexible sheet material, flattening the end of said tube, and sealing the flattened end in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealedand unsealed strips lengthwise of the container.

"2. In a process of forming a container for cigars and like cylindrical objects, the steps comprising forming a tube of flexible sheet material, flattening the end of said tube, and sealing the flattened-end at the sides only, while leaving an unsealed gap at the center.

3. In a process of forming a container for cigarsand like cylindrical objects, the steps comprising forming a tube formed of a flexible sheet of heat-fusible material and closing the end of said-tube by flattening the end, and heat-sealing the flattened end in laterally spaced areas forming sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container.

4. In a process of forming a container for cigars and like cylindrical objects, the steps comprising forming a tube formed of a flexible sheet of heat-fusible material and forming an end closure thereon by inwardly tucking opposing walls adjacent the end of the container, flattening the remaining walls on to said inwardly tucked portions and folding back and heat-sealing the flattened end on to the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forming alternate sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container.

5. In a process of forming a container for 01- gars and like cylindrical objects, the steps comprising forming' a tube having overlapping long edges from a sheet of flexible, heat-fusible. material, sealing together the overlapping longi-, tudinal edges, and forming an end closure them 15 on by inwardly tucking opposing walls and flattening the remaining walls on to said inwardly tucked portions, and folding and heat-sealing the flattened end on to the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container, the longitudinal seam being left unsealed for a distance from the end closure.

6. As an article of manufacture, a con er for cigars and like cylindrical'objects, com rising a flexible tubular container having aflattened end, said end being sealed atthe sides only and having an unsealed gap at the center, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the contairfer.

'7. As an article of manufacture, a containerfor cigars and like cylindrical objects, comprising a flexible tubular container-having an end fiattened and folded back on to the body of the container, said flattened and folded end beingsealed at laterally spacedareas= separated by an un-. sealed space, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the container.

8. As an article of manufacture, a container for cigars and like cylindrical objects, comprising a flexible tube having its end flattened and sealed in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the. container. Y

9. As an article of manufacture, acontainer for cigars and like cylindrical objects, comprising a flexible sheet formed into a-tube having a longitudinal seam, the end of said tube being inwardly tucked at the sides and flattened, and the flattened end being sealed in laterally spaced areas forming sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container, the longitudinal seam being left unsealed for a distance from the end of the container, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the container. I v 1 I 10. As an article of manufacture, a. container 50 for cigars and like cylindrical objects, comprising a flexible sheet of heat-fusible material formed into a tubular container'having a longitudinal seam, the end of said tube being inwardly tucked at the sides and flattened, said flat- 5 tened end being folded back and fused to the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forn 1 ing sealed and unsealed strips lengthwiseof the container, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the con tainer. Y

11. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container and a cigar contained therein, said container comprising a flexible tube having an end flattened, the flattened end-'be- 76' ing sealed in laterally spaced areas forming sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise or the container, the cigar being readily removable from the container by pushing the cigar through said sealed end.

12. As an article of manufacture, the combinationpi a container and a cigar contained therein, said container comprising a. flexible sheet or material formed into a tubular container having a longitudinal seam, said tubular container having a flattened end, said flattened end being folded back and sealed in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise oi the container, the cigar being readily removable from the container by pushing the cigar through said sealed end.

13. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container and a cigar contained therein, said container comprising a flexible sheet of heat-fusible material formed into a tubular container having a longitudinal seam, said tubular container having a flattened end, said flattened end being folded back and fused to the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container, the cigar being readily removable from the container by pushing the cigar through said sealed end.

14. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container and a cigar contained therein, said container comprising a flexible sheet of cellophane combined with a moistureprooflng composition and formed into a tubular container having a sealed longitudinal scam, the end of said tubular container being inwardly tucked and said flattened end being folded back and sealed onto the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forming sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise oi the container, the areas adjacent the longitudinal edges of the flattened end being sealed andthe central area thereof being unsealed, and the longitudinal seam being unsealed for a distance, from the end closure, the cigar being readily removable from the container by pushing the cigar through said sealedend.

15. A process for forming an end closure on 5 a flexible, tubular container for cigars comprising sealing the flattened end oi. the container in latterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise or the container, said sealed end being readily broken open when pressure actuated from inside the container.

16. A process for forming an end closure on a tubular container for cigars formed of a flexible sheet material comprising flattening the end of the container and sealing the flattened end at the sides only while leaving an unsealed gap at the center, said sealed end being readily unsealed when pressure actuated from inside the container.

17. A process for forming an end closure on a tubular container for cigars formed of a flexible sheet of heat-fusible material comprising closing the end of the container, flattening the end and heat-sealing the flattened end in laterally spaced areas forming sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise of the container, said sealed end being readily unsealed when pressure actuated from inside the container.

18. A process for forming an end closure on a tubular container for cigars iormed of a flexible sheet material comprising inwardly tucking opposing walls adjacent the endoi the container flattening the remaining walls onto the inwardly tucked portions and folding backand sealing the flattened end onto-the body of the container in laterally spaced areas forming alternately sealed and unsealed strips lengthwise 01 the container, said sealed end being readily unsealed when pressure actuatedfrom 'the inside of the 40 container.

JOHN D. CONTI. 

